Deles: Bangsamoro TransCom budget to be released soon

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines -- The budget for the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (TransCom) of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) will be released soon, presidential peace adviser Teresita "Ging" Deles said Saturday.

In a text message, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda quoted Deles as saying that the fund release is already being processed and that the initial budget will be out early this week.

Still quoting Deles, Lacierda said: "Government has rules in releasing funds which needed time to work out for a new organization that still has no staff-accounting systems... [Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process] working closely with Transition Commission Executive Director to set up the needed systems."

TransCom Chairman Mohagher Iqbal on Wednesday said the 15-man commission has yet to receive its initial budget of P100 million from the Office of the President.

Iqbal said he has already written to the president requesting for the release of the funds. -- Report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News